As families around the state come together for the holidays, police are calling on motorists to work with them to prevent trauma on our roads this Christmas.
Operation Safe Holidays kicked off on 18 December and will continue until 3 January with a highly visible police presence all over South Australia.
Targeting the locations and times with the highest traffic volumes and the roads that pose the greatest risk to motorists, police will be unapologetically enforcing the road rules that exist to save lives.
Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott, Officer in Charge State Operations Service says Police don't want to ruin anyone's Christmas with an expiation, but being killed or seriously injured on the road would make Christmas a whole lot worse.
"We just cannot accept irresponsible driving behaviours at this time, or at any time," AC Parrott said.
"Families, children, friends, colleagues, teammates, loved ones– we'll all be out and about trying to enjoy time together and it only takes one careless or risky decision to ruin that for everyone.
"Police will be all over the state tirelessly enforcing the laws related to the Fatal 5 – drink and drug driving, speeding, distraction, dangerous driving, not wearing a seatbelt. But we cannot do this alone. We need each and every member of the community to come together and do their part to avoid a catastrophic event."
Over the past five years, there were 37 lives lost, 167 serious injuries and a total of 1,304 casualty crashes in the period of 17 December to 3 January.
Of the crashes during this period:
· 54.1% of all lives lost occurred in rural areas
· 33.6% of all rural casualty crashes occurred in Hills Fleurieu area
Minister for Road Safety, Vincent Tarzia, said significant SAPOL resources have been deployed to deter bad behaviour and catch those who still choose to risk lives.
"Wherever you are this Christmas and New Year, you can expect to see SAPOL there too," Minister Tarzia said.
"Hopefully officers can say Merry Christmas and move on. But if you're driving like an idiot, police will have a lot more to say than that.
"I'm asking all South Australians to heed the message. Driving safely costs you nothing. A bad choice could cost you your life."
Additional statistics:
Over the last five years (2016 – 2020), during the 17 December to 3 January period (Operation Safe Holidays Period.
- 10 or 27% lives lost at this time have been attributed due to drink or drug driving
- 24 or 14% Serious injuries at this time have been attributed to drink or drug driving
- 21 or 57% lives lost at this time have been due to distraction
- 49 or 29% serious injuries at this time have been due to distraction
- 5 or 25% lives lost at this time have involved someone not wearing a seatbelt
- 10 or 12% serious injuries at this time have been someone not wearing a seatbelt
- 7 or 19% lives lost at this time have been attributed to excessive speed
- 17 or 10% serious injuries at this time have been attributed to excessive speed
-END-
